Promise for Today - Heaven's Reunion

There will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words. 

1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 (MSG)

When I was young, I didn't really think about heaven that much. First, it seemed so boring—at least the way the world describes it. Second, it seemed like a long way off. And third, no one I knew was there yet. But I know a lot of people who are in heaven now, and I can't wait to get there and be with them.

In heaven, we're going to be reunited with our loved ones who love the Lord. Those who are in the family of God are all going to be there.

Who would you like to talk to first in heaven? Of course, you’re going to meet and worship the Lord first. But who are you excited to see next? Every believer throughout history will be there. Would you like to talk to Moses? You can! How about Abraham or Mary or Paul? I don’t know about you, but I definitely have some questions for Jonah. You’ll see famous people from throughout Christian history and scientists and world leaders and people from every tribe and nation. You're going to have all of eternity to talk with them!

The Message paraphrase says, "There will be one huge family reunion with the Master" (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Can you imagine how emotional, how joyful that's going to be? Then verse 18 says, “So reassure one another with these words.”

My mother is in heaven, my father is in heaven, my older brother, Jim, is in heaven, and my youngest child, Matthew, is in heaven. I have many dear people who served with me in ministry in heaven. The more of my family and friends who are on that side of death, the dearer heaven becomes to me.

Are you encouraged by the thought of being in the presence of Jesus and reunited with your friends and family? When we are grieving with someone, we should share that encouragement with them. If they and their loved one know Jesus as their Savior, then death is not the end. They will see them again!

This is God’s goodness to us: there is no greater hope in life than a big family reunion for eternity!

Talk It Over

How does knowing you will see fellow members of God’s family in heaven motivate you to share the gospel?

Who in your life needs to hear about God’s offer of an eternal home in heaven? What will you do about it?

What kinds of things do you think you will want to talk about in heaven, once you’ve left the world behind?

-by Pastor Rick

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Prayer (prayer for salvation, following the 'Reunion' prayer)

Father,

         Hold close the ones we love who have gone before us. Let their laughter bloom again in the gardens of Your kingdom, where no shadow falls, and no tear is shed. Keep them in the warmth of Your presence until the day our own steps take us through the gate of pearl. Grant us patience in the waiting, faith in the unseen, and hope that does not fade with the years.
      When the trumpet of Your promise sounds, may we meet again in the embrace of forever - no more parting, no more night - only the joy of reunion in Your everlasting peace. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

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Will you be part of the heavenly family reunion?

The Bible says you can only get to heaven by trusting in God through his Son, Jesus Christ. You cannot earn your way into heaven: “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

If you’re ready to commit your life to Jesus, pray this prayer:

“Dear God, you have promised that if I believe in your Son, Jesus Christ, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, I will learn the purpose of my life, and you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven one day.

“I confess I have sinned, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died to take away my sins and that you raised him to life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow him as Lord from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

Promise for Today - Every Good Thing

Protect me, God, because I trust in you. I said to the LORD, ‘You are my Lord. Every good thing I have comes from you.’ 

Psalm 16:1-2 (NCV)

Not everything that happens in your life is good. But God is good—and he is pouring his goodness into your life.

Circumstances may be very difficult in your life right now, but God can take the bad and bring good out of it. Even in the worst times, you can trust this: God has a good purpose, a good plan, and a good reason. No matter where you are in life right now, you could use a reminder of God’s goodness. And sometimes the best way to remember something is to talk with God about it through prayer.

Would you stop now to pray and talk to God about his goodness? Say something like this:

“God, you are so good. I could never deserve your goodness. I’m sorry that I have often forgotten or doubted your goodness. Forgive me for my ungratefulness and prideful self-centeredness. I am nothing without you. Like King David in the Bible, I would despair if I didn’t know your goodness. Open my eyes to see how good you really are and let your goodness transform my life.

“God, my soul needs restoring. I don’t always think right. I don’t always choose right. I don’t always feel right. I need you to restore my damaged soul, my mind, my will, and my emotions. As I continue learning about your goodness, I trust that my sins have been forgiven because I’ve come to you and admitted I need a Savior. I’m going to release the people who have hurt me and pray a prayer of blessing over them. I’m going to team up with you and ask you to help me with the load I’m carrying. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Talk It Over

Why is it prideful not to acknowledge God’s goodness?

How have you seen God turn the bad things that have happened to you into something good?

When you look back and recognize God’s goodness in your life, how does it affect your perspective on your current circumstances?

- by Pastor Rick

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The greatest example of God’s goodness is Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. You won’t fully experience His goodness until you experience His salvation. If you don’t know Jesus as Savior, you can pray this right now:

“Jesus Christ, I want to get to know You. I want to learn to love You and trust You. Please forgive me for my sin. I ask You to accept me into Your family, not because I deserve it but because on the cross, You paid for all of my sins. Thank You for Your gift of salvation. I receive it and ask for Your help to follow You faithfully as my Lord. I pray this in Your Name. Amen.”

Promise for Today - A Straightforward Solution

God says he will accept and acquit us—declare us ‘not guilty’—if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like. 

Romans 3:22 (TLB)

Every human who has ever lived has faced the same problem: Their sin separates them from God. But the Bible offers a simple, straightforward solution, “good news that will bring great joy to all people” (Luke 2:10 NLT).

The Bible says, “This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, ‘It is through faith that a righteous person has life’” (Romans 1:17 NLT).

God’s Word also says, “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

The Good News is that the death and resurrection of Jesus give you access to God. In other words, you can only get to heaven by trusting in God through his Son, Jesus Christ.

How do you express faith in Christ? Here’s a simple, biblical guide:

Admit you need a Savior
You can’t get to God on your own. You’re a sinner. You’ve blown it. Heaven is perfect, and you’re not. But the Bible says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NIV).

Believe in Jesus
The Bible is straightforward about what you need to believe for salvation: “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31 NLT). That means you believe Jesus is who the Bible says he is, and you trust him entirely and completely with your future. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NIV).  And your belief must be specific in Christ: “If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from death, you will be saved. For it is by our faith that we are put right with God; it is by our confession that we are saved... ‘Everyone who calls out to the Lord for help will be saved’” (Romans 10:9-10, 13 GNT).

Confess your commitment to Jesus
Tell Jesus you trust him with your life. Confess that you believe in him and his promises. Jesus said, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark” (John 12:44-46 NLT).

Depend on God’s promises
You can rely on God’s promise in John 3:16: “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (NLT).

No matter what you’ve done or how long you’ve done it, God promises that everyone who believes in Jesus will live with him in heaven forever.

Talk It Over

If you are a follower of Jesus, how has today’s Daily Hope encouraged you by reminding you of how Jesus saved you? Who will you share the gospel with this week?

God promises that everyone who believes in Jesus will live with him forever in heaven. What difference does that promise make in your life?

If you haven’t yet committed your life to Jesus, what is holding you back? Are you ready to take that step now? Do you want to commit your life to Jesus? If you haven’t yet trusted in Jesus and committed to following him, why wait any longer? 

- by Pastor Rick

Pray this prayer:

Dear Jesus, 

                  You have promised that if I believe in You, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven and You will accept me into Your eternal home in heaven one day. I’m so grateful that I do not have to earn or work for my salvation. It is a gift from God, through Your sacrifice on the cross.

I confess my sin, and I ask You to be my Savior. I receive You into my life as my Lord. Today I’m turning over every part of my life to Your management. I want to use the rest of my life to serve You instead of serving myself. I commit my life to You and ask You to save me and accept me into Your family. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.

Promise for Today - No Putting It Off

We are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:8 (NKJV)

We’ve been talking about eternal realities so that you can clearly see why you need to choose heaven.  Yes, you get to choose where you’re going to spend eternity. But you have to choose now while you’re alive, not after you’re dead. There’s no going back! God gives you an entire lifetime to make the right decision. If you keep putting it off, then there will be no second chance to get it right once you’ve died.

The Bible talks about what happens when we’re away from our earthly bodies—“for then we will be at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8 NLT). There is no halfway house between heaven and hell. There’s no intermediate state. There’s no limbo. You may have heard the term “purgatory.” Although the idea developed over time in church history, it is not taught in Scripture.

When Jesus was dying on the cross, there was a man next to him who had been a criminal his entire life. In his last seconds, the man surrendered his life to Jesus and said, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (Luke 23:42 NKJV). All he knew about salvation was that Jesus could save him. He didn’t know all the doctrines or theology. He didn’t know all the “right” words. He just said “yes” to Jesus. Because of the man’s faith, Jesus said to him, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43 NIV).

To get into heaven, all it takes on your part is saying “yes” to Jesus Christ. That’s it! The promise is that you are then guaranteed to be with God when you die and to spend eternity in the joy of his presence.

But you have only one life to make the choice to follow Jesus. And God has done everything to make sure you can get into heaven. Now you just need to receive his promise.

Today, you have the opportunity to choose where you’ll spend eternity. Don’t put it off!

Talk It Over

Why do you think so many people believe they can put off making the decision of whether or not to become a Christian?

How does the story of the criminal on the cross next to Jesus give you hope?

This week, who will you share with about the urgency of making a choice to follow Jesus?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          Thank You for sending Your Son to redeem us from our sins and make the way for us to be in right relationship with You. Give us divine opportunities and the boldness to lift Him up so that His love story will draw all hearers to salvation. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - What Exactly is Salvation?

Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others.

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 CEV

Because of God’s great mercy, Jesus came “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10 NIV). He showed you how much you matter to him by sending his Son to die on the cross for your sins. That’s the kind of love God has for you.

You may have heard people say, “I’m saved.” You may even say that yourself when you talk about your relationship with Jesus. But what does it mean to be saved? What happens when you accept God’s gift of salvation? Salvation rescues you from your sinful self. Many people don’t think they need to be saved or “rescued” from anything. And I ask them, “Really? You have no pain in your life? You have no resentment, pressures, guilt, or anxiety?” Everyone has problems they can’t solve on their own. Everyone needs to be rescued. Everyone needs Jesus.

In Psalm 50:15 (GW), The Bible says, “Call on me in times of trouble. I will rescue you, and you will honor me”.

Salvation reconnects you to God. When you surrender your life to God, Jesus makes peace between you and him. He tears down all the barriers that once separated you from your Creator. There’s a word for that: reconciliation.

Salvation recovers what you lost. What would you like to get back? Maybe you’ve lost your confidence, your joy, your reputation, your dream, or your innocence. Jesus came to recover what you’ve lost.

If you’re familiar with farming, you probably know how damaging a swarm of locusts can be. They can destroy a field of corn in about two hours. What has eaten away at your life? What has destroyed your plans or relationships? Only God can restore it all. Joel 2:25 says, “I will give you back what you lost in the years when swarms of locusts ate your crops” (GNT).

Being reconciled to God also means you will live with him forever. You won’t spend eternity in hell, separated from God; instead, you will have a secure home in heaven! That’s why preparing for the next life is the most important thing you can do in this life. - written by Pastor Rick

Talk It Over
Do you struggle to admit you need God to rescue you? In what ways do you sometimes try to rescue yourself?

What have you lost in life? Take time to thank God for being a God of restoration and ask him to restore “what you lost in the years when swarms of locusts ate your crops.”

If you are already a Christian, in what ways did your salvation reconnect you to God? 

If you haven’t decided to follow Jesus yet, in what areas of your life do you see a need for connection to God? It’s never too late to seek God’s rescue. If you haven’t yet accepted God’s gift of salvation through Jesus, you can do that today. Are you ready to commit your life to Jesus? If so, then pray this prayer:

Father,

           Your Word declares in Romans 10:9-10 ( ESV) that if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that You raised Him from the dead, we will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. You have promised that if I believe and make You Lord of my life, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, I will learn the purpose of my life, and You will accept me into Your eternal home in heaven one day.

“I confess my sin, and I believe that You are God, my Savior. Today I’m turning every part of my life over to You. I want to follow You and do what You tell me to do.

“Jesus, I am grateful for your love, for your sacrifice on the cross, and for your resurrection that makes it possible for me to join you in heaven. I know I don’t deserve it. And I thank you that it is a gift of grace. I want to use the rest of my life to serve you instead of serving myself. I commit my life to you, and I ask you to save me and accept me into your family. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.”

Promise for Today - Reaching Back for Salvation

18 Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.
19 So he went and preached to the spirits in prison— 20 those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood. 21 And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 3:18-21 NLT

6 That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead[a]—so although they were destined to die like all people,[b] they now live forever with God in the Spirit. 

1 Peter 4:6 NLT

I wanted to share some thoughts and Scriptures and dig a little deeper regarding Christ’s time on Holy Saturday. My personal belief is that Jesus descended into Hades to take back the keys to death and the grave, freeing those held in "Abraham’s Bosom" (or Paradise) until salvation was made possible through Christ's perfect sacrifice.

Scriptural Context:
Our Promises for Today - 1 Peter 3:18-21 & 4:6: These passages suggest Christ preached to the spirits in Hades—specifically those who rejected God during the time of Noah. This was an announcement of His triumph on the Cross, sealing the fate of the lost while bringing the Good News to the dead.

And Revelation 1:18: "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death."

Understanding Abraham’s Bosom:
According to resources like Christianity.com, Abraham’s Bosom is viewed as a temporary holding place for the righteous dead prior to the Resurrection. Because the way to the direct presence of God was not yet opened (Hebrews 9:8), even the righteous remained there until the sin debt was paid. Ephesians 4:8–10 suggests that after His death, Christ "led captivity captive," emptying this compartment and bringing the faithful into heaven. Today, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, according to 2 Corinthians 5:8.

Another Point to Ponder
The High Priesthood and Mary Magdalene:
I also found an interesting perspective from the Israel Bible Center regarding why Jesus told Mary not to touch Him in the garden, yet later invited Thomas to do so. It relates to the purity requirements of the High Priest. As our ultimate High Priest, Jesus was preparing to minister in the heavenly tabernacle (Hebrews 9:11). Just as a priest required seven days of ordination, Jesus needed to remain in a consecrated state to complete His mission in the presence of God without delay or defilement. By the time He saw Thomas eight days later, His priestly work was complete.

While Abraham’s Bosom may no longer function as it once did, understanding it highlights the completeness of Christ’s work. He didn't just save us moving forward; He reached back through time to bring the faithful dead into the fulfilled promise of salvation.

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for revealing Your Word to us. Thank You for every minute detail of the plan You implemented for salvation - Reveal them all to us, O God, King of the Universe. Holy Spirit, lead us into all Truth according to the Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Psalm 62 - A Calm Resolve to Wait for the Salvation of God

Only in God do I find rest; my salvation comes from Him.

Only God is my Rock and my Salvation— my Stronghold!—I won’t be shaken anymore.

How long will all of you attack others; how long will you tear them down as if they were leaning walls or broken-down fences? The only desire of this people is to bring others down low; they delight in deception.  With their mouths they bless, but inside they are cursing. Selah

Oh, I must find rest in God only, because my hope comes from Him! Only God is my Rock and my Salvation — my Stronghold! — I will not be shaken.

My deliverance and glory depend on God. God is my strong rock. My refuge is in God. All you people: Trust in Him at all times! Pour out your hearts before Him! God is our refuge! Selah

Human beings are nothing but a breath. Human beings are nothing but lies. They don’t even register on a scale; taken all together they are lighter than a breath! Don’t trust in violence; don’t set false hopes in robbery. When wealth bears fruit, don’t set your heart on it.

God has spoken one thing— make it two things— that I myself have heard: that strength belongs to God, and faithful love comes from You, my Lord— and that You will repay everyone according to their deeds. Psalm 62 Common English Bible

Prayer:

Father,

          So let it be written. So let it be done. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Lent - Day 37 - No Fear

Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2025

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    So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
    Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
    Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
    But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
    But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 24:15-51

The final day of judgment can fill us with a consuming fear which often drives people to need to figure out when this will all occur. Many predictions have been made, only to end up being wrong, which shouldn’t surprise us. Jesus tells us the day and hour are known by no one but the Father. From Jesus’ own words, we do know two things. First, it will not be a secret. “All the tribes of the earth will… see the Son of Man coming… with power and great glory.” So we won’t need to wonder if we missed it. Second, we do not need to fear this for we are in Christ.

While no one knows the day or hour Jesus tells us that it will be like the days of Noah. Outside of Noah and his family, everyone was unaware until the flood came and swept them away. With the same suddenness, in the midst of daily life, some will be left and others swept away.

So where is our comfort in all this? In a letter he wrote to the church, Peter reminds us that in that day of judgment (the flood) God preserved eight people (Noah and his family) by His grace. In 1 Peter 3:21-22, Peter tells us, "Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God...". Through [this], God gathers us by His grace into His ark to safely bring us through His judgment.

Prayer:

Almighty God,
              For our many sins, we justly deserve eternal condemnation. In Your mercy, You sent Your dear Son who paid for the forgiveness of sins and our everlasting salvation. Until Christ returns, grant us peace by preserving us each day in the promises You poured out on us... Amen.

Lent - Day 17 - Hold Fast to Christ

Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2025
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As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town. Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 

Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 

When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household. So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

Matthew 10:12-42

“I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Are these really the words of Jesus, the Prince of Peace? When He was born didn’t the angels declare, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill towards men”? Yesterday we read how He sent out the disciples to bring peace to any house that would receive them. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, the One who brings peace between God and humanity by His redeeming death. But He does not bring only peace. His message cuts like a sword that cleaves a very clear line in the response of every person. Some hear the call of the gospel and by God’s gracious action respond to their own sin with repentance, clinging in faith to the cross alone which saves them. However, others who hear the same gospel message, unfortunately, reject Christ’s gospel message and life-giving sacrifice, desiring instead to defend themselves, remain in their sin, or seek another way. This division has ramifications beyond one’s relationship with God. Jesus warns us that it will extend into the relationships between people. Those who reject Christ are also likely to reject those who follow Christ, or at least reject this key and central truth about them. Disciples of Jesus will find themselves in situations where they will have to make hard choices. We will face pressures to either make changes in our trust in Christ in order to make peace with others or cling in faith to Christ even at the risk of losing that peace with others. Jesus promises us that by clinging to faith in Him, we will discover that we have found true peace and life forever.

Prayer:

Jesus Christ, 

                  You are my Rock and Salvation. Strengthen me to be ready to stand in the face of any persecution that may come on account of You. Amen.

Advent Day 23 - A Reason to Be Generous This Christmas

This year's Advent devotionals are from A Celebration of Advent:
A 25-Day Devotional by New Spring Church of Anderson, SC
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“He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come”
Isaiah 61:2

Jesus came “to proclaim good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives.” When Jesus returned to heaven, that work became ours to continue. We give our money and our time because we’re followers of Jesus. No matter our circumstances, we are blessed. Jesus blesses us so that we can bless others.

Favor is simply another way of describing God’s approval and delight. We receive God’s favor, not because of anything we’ve done, but because Jesus died for our sins and made us children of God. Because God established an eternal covenant with us through Jesus, the time of the Lord’s favor is now!

We may not have as much as someone else, but we have what we need to continue Jesus’ mission until He returns. Look for opportunities in the community to serve others. As we do, people start to see there’s something special about God’s people, and His goodness becomes known among the nations.

Reflect: Read Isaiah 61:1-9, Luke 4:18-21

What’s one way you can be generous to those in need?
What’s one way you can encourage someone who’s struggling this Christmas?
Is there anything that’s been lost that God might want to work through you to restore?
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Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for the anointing You placed on Your Son to preach good tidings to the poor; to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound. Thank You that Christ came to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of Your vengeance. Thank You that Jesus is anointed to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. And He has anointed us as His followers to fulfill this Good News of His salvation until His return. Give us faithful hearts and Your strength to do Your will, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

All that I Am - excerpts from Psalm 103

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.

Psalm 103:1-2 NLT

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly.

He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel. The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.

He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone— as though we had never been here. But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!

The Lord has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything.

Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands. Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will! Praise the Lord, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom.

Let all that I am praise the Lord. (Let all that we are praise the Lord.)

Lent - Day Six - Gospel In a Nutshell

Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2024

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

John 3:16-17

Luther once said, “This Gospel (John 3:16-21) is one of the most magnificent passages to be found in the whole New Testament; and were it possible, worthy to be inscribed with golden letters into our hearts. Every Christian ought to learn this comforting text by heart and repeat it every day, so that the words might become second nature to us, and their meaning might become ever clearer. For they are the kind of words that can gladden a sorrowful heart and enliven a person who has lost all hope of life, if he would but accept them in faith.” *

It is the Gospel in a nutshell. God loved. God gave. God saved. Additionally, it is helpful for us to read it in the context of the full conversation with Nicodemus, where it is made clear how Christ applies His saving work to us individually. Through water and the Spirit, we are reborn; born from above. Through our baptism, we are made children of God. This echoes back to John 1:13 where we see that this is not done by any of the earthly ways families are made. We aren’t children by blood, marriage, legal adoption, or any other human decision. This is something far beyond this world. It is God’s work, accomplished through Christ, poured out on each of us with water accompanied by the Spirit.

Prayer: 

Holy Spirit, 

                  Impress these verses upon my heart, that the magnitude of Jesus’ words would continually resonate within me and I would receive peace and joy from them. Amen.

* From a sermon preached by Luther in 1534. The House Postils, Vol. 2; Eugene Klug, Baker Books 1996 p. 195.

Further Reading John 3:1-21

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Situations

While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. 
Hebrews 5:7 NLT

When bad things happen in life, people often demand to know why and they tend to accuse God. Why would God allow this to happen? Why didn't God stop this? Why wasn't He there? Romans 8:35b reads, Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? Verse 38 emphatically declares No! Nothing can separate us from God's love. And yet, that's what we tend to believe. Or oftentimes, we think if we'd only known what was going to happen, that somehow we could have been prepared and it would be easier, or we could have found a different way around it. 

I find it interesting to note that in today's choice of Scripture, it says God heard Jesus's prayers when He was in the garden, praying to be rescued from death. Jesus KNEW what was coming. I find it even more interesting to know that God did NOT rescue Jesus from the situation. There was nothing lessened or made easier. Even though He prayed earnestly and fervently, Jesus was still scourged and beaten unrecognizable, and then crucified.

He would have liked to have had a way around it, but Jesus chose to be obedient (Nevertheless, Thy will be done), based solely on what the Father had told Him. Hebrews 5:8 reads, Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In Matthew 26:53-54, Jesus confirms His choice to obey, Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now? As the Son of God, Jesus could do whatever He wanted. As a man, He had to walk in obedience or we would have no hope for salvation. 

Verse 9 of today's passage reads, In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. Our source of eternal salvation, not situational salvation. Not based on the situations in our lives, but based on the foundational Truth of God's Word. Can we stand in obedience to God even in our situations?

Prayer:

Father, 

          Thank You for the Truth of Your Word. Help us to be as David, Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee... We choose to walk in obedience to You, regardless of the situations in our lives. Like the old song says, Father, "Lift me up above the shadows..." In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Through the Bible in a Year
Reading for February 9th
Exodus 29:1-30:10
Matthew 26:14-46
Psalm 31:19-24
Proverbs 8:14-26

Your Way YHWH

Jesus told him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.   
John 14:6 NLT

Even the most novice of Christ-followers can quote this verse, but do we understand it completely? Most think it's only about finding salvation, but it's so much more than that! 

Think about some of the Names of God:

Jehovah Shalom - The Lord is peace
Jehovah Jireh - The Lord will provide
Jehovah Nissi - The Lord is my banner
Jehovah Rapha - The Lord my healer
Jehovah Sabbaoth - The Lord of Hosts - Commander of the Angel Armies!

And that's just to name a few.

Do you think God changes into each of these names individually on an as-needed basis? Or is He the God who never changes and the Great I AM?  According to Scripture, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. So if He doesn't change, then He is ALL of these (and more). Think about THAT for a moment!

So then, if God is all these things, we definitely want to get to Him. We NEED to get to Him. We need salvation. We need to be healed. We need provision. We need PEACE! When we get into His presence, do you think He has one place for peace, another place for healing, a different place for salvation? There's not one door marked 'healing', and one marked 'provision' or one marked 'peace' - at least, not by God. Do you know and understand that when we get into the presence of God, we have it all? 

So, how DO we get to Him? Jesus said, I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life. No one can come to the Father except through me. [emphasis mine]  He's not one door for salvation and then playing tag for the rest of them. It is ALL available to us when we accept Christ as our Savior. When we spend time in His presence - whatever we require - we will find it ALL in Him.

Prayer:

Father,

          Open our eyes to see You and our hearts to know You in Your fullness. Help us to walk in YOUR way - the only way - in Your Truth and Your light as we live our lives before You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

Without Sin

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:8-9 NIV

Who's kidding who? We'd all like to be without sin, but the Truth is we are not. Romans 3:23 tells us, For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard [emphasis mine]. Reading in James yesterday, chapter 2 tells us even if we keep the whole law and only offend in one point, we're guilty of all. 

What hope do we have of making Heaven? Romans 7:25a, Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. Only Jesus. Our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), but Jesus was and is the sinless, spotless Lamb, the Perfect Sacrifice to free us from the guilt of sin. It's His righteousness that purifies us. Colossians 1:21-22 NLT declares This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. Only Jesus...

Prayer:

Father,

          Are there even words we can utter that could possibly express the magnitude of our gratefulness to You? It is so difficult to grasp the full weight of Your love and grace and mercy toward us. Thank You for Your plan of salvation for all of mankind! Keep us ever mindful of the great price that was paid so we could be brought into right-standing with You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Waiting for God

Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.
Psalm 62:1-2 NKJV

My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God.

Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. vvs. 5-8

Prayer:

Father,

          Strip the scales from our eyes so we may clearly see You above all else. Cause us to be able to see Your hand, Your fingerprints, on and in every area of our life. Lord, we reaffirm to You and to ourselves that we will wait silently, trusting You at all times, in all things. In Jesus' Name. Amen

Work Hard

Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
Philippians 2:12c-13 NLT

That statement - Work hard to show the results of your salvation - is NOT about having to do works to earn our salvation. Our hard work is walking in obedience. Yes, God gives us the desire and power to be able to do what pleases Him, but we still have to work hard to bring our bodies into submission to His will and ways and not our own will and ways.

Paul continues: Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.  We are not the light, but rather we live our lives so that we can be the reflection of the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. As the world becomes darker in its sin and greed, God's light will shine brighter. Let us work hard to make sure there is nothing in our lives that will get in the way of reflecting Christ to those around us.

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for the desire and power to do what pleases You. Give us Your strength so that we can walk pure before You, doing all without complaining and arguing. Give us clean hands and pure hearts, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Man Said So

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT

This isn't my writing. It's an excerpt from a sermon preached by Reverend Alistair Begg. It is GREAT news for everyone, but especially for those who think they have to earn their way into Heaven. (We cannot.) This story from God's Word is irrefutable proof. Read on...

...without the preaching of the Cross, without preaching the Cross to ourselves all day and every day, we will very, very quickly revert to faith plus works as the ground of our salvation. So that to go to the old Fort Lauderdale question, 'If you were to die tonight and you were getting entry into Heaven, what would you say?'

If you answer that and if I answer it in the first person, we've immediately gone wrong.

Because "I", ...because "I" believed, ...because "I" have faith, ...because "I" am this,  ...because "I" am continuing...

Loved ones, the only proper answer is in the third person - because He! Because He! Think about the thief on the cross. What an immense (pause), I can't wait to find that fellow one day to ask him, "How did that shake out for you?!? Because you were cussing the guy out with your friend... You've never been in a Bible study and never got baptized. You didn't know a thing about church membership and yet, and yet, you made it. You made it!  How did you make it?!?"

That's what the angel must have said, you know, like 'What are you doing here?'

[thief] Well, I don't know

[angel] What do you mean you don't know?!?

[thief] Well, because I don't know!

{angel] Well, you know...were you (stuttering) did you... (pause) Excuse me, let me get my supervisor.

So they go get the supervisor angel.

[supervisor] Sir, just a few questions for you. First of all, are you clear on the doctrine of justification by faith?

The guy said, I never heard of it in my life.

[supervisor] And what about - let's just go to the doctrine of Scripture immediately...

The guy is just staring, and eventually, in frustration, he [supervisor] says, Then on what basis are you here?

And the thief said, "The Man on the middle cross said I can come."

Now, that is the only answer. That is the only answer. And if I don't preach the Gospel to myself all day and every day, then I will find myself beginning to trust myself, trust my experience, which is part of my fallenness as a man. If I take my eyes off the cross, I can then give only lip service to its efficacy while at the same time living as if my salvation depends upon me.

And as soon as you go there, it will lead you either to abject despair or a horrible kind of arrogance. And it is only the cross of Christ that deals both with the dreadful depths of despair and the pretentious arrogance of the pride of man that says, "You know, I can figure this out and I'm doing wonderfully well." No! "Because the sinless Saviour died, my sinful soul is counted free, for God the Just is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me." (from Before the Throne of God) That's why Luther said that most of your Christian life is outside of you - in this sense, that we know we are not saved by good works, We are not saved as a result of our professions, but we're saved as a result of what Christ has achieved.

The Man on the middle cross said so.

Prayer:

Father, 

           O the beauty of Your Grace, the depth of Your love to provide salvation for us - to make the way when there is nothing we could do in our own self-righteousness to earn our way to Heaven. Thank you seems hardly adequate and yet, we are so grateful. Help us to ALWAYS be aware that it is You and Your work on Calvary's Cross that gives us access and entrance to Your presence. Give us clean hands and grateful and pure hearts. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Alistair Begg - The Message of the Cross

From Now until Easter - So Shall I Be Saved from My Enemies

From Ash Wednesday until Easter, I will post from Lent and Easter devotionals offered online. Tonight's post is written by Brent Mulder, a chaplain in the United States Air Force, currently assigned to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska.
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I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies.

Psalm 18:1-3 NIV

This psalm is set in the context of war. “War is hell,” my late grandfather and World War II veteran once told me. He never said much more than this. War profoundly changes people. How can it not? The ones who survive certainly have reason to sing praises as David did. Many of their stories are remarkable and a bit unbelievable. I have been in war and heard these testimonies myself, first-hand. The most memorable one was from a soldier who had been shot in the head. It was not as bad as it sounds, though. The bullet hit his helmet and ricocheted off. He was obviously in shock, but he did not have any injuries, not even a concussion or traumatic brain injury. This soldier was so stunned and thankful that he could hardly speak. He just sat there, on the hospital bed, looking down at his helmet. I eagerly watched as he stared and felt the little indent and scratch mark. As a chaplain, it was good to know that another warfighter was safe that day.

As I wrapped up my shift, I rejoiced and said a prayer of thanksgiving for a God who saves people from their enemies. God still saves people from fatal bullets and charging insurgents. God still saves soldiers surrounded in battle with no way out. But God also saves people from less dramatic enemies outside the context of battlefield warfare, from enemies that are a bit more relatable, like divorce, financial ruin, a co-worker who seems to be “out to get them,” depression, addiction, and failure. Our God is a God of salvation.

Maybe we cannot relate to the war stories of victory, but this Lenten season, we can all draw near to the God who saved us—and is still saving us—from our enemies.

Prayer:

Dear God, 

                Thank You for miraculously saving people from their enemies. Thank You for miraculously saving me from my enemies. Teach me to always put my trust and hope in You. Continue to be my strength for the rest of my days. [In Jesus' Name we pray.] Amen.

Needed Most

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Hebrews 4:15-16 NLT

Jesus fully understands every temptation known to mankind. He faced them all but did not succumb to any of them. That's why He can help us. He can empathize with us, yet He knows how to rise above and He can bring us up higher, too.

Mercy is not getting what we do deserve for our sins and weaknesses. Grace is getting what we don't deserve - another chance, forgiveness, and mercies that are new EVERY morning...

Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV tells us, For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

Salvation by His Grace, abundant life by His mercies, and everlasting love that we cannot begin to comprehend. Exactly what we needed most.

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for instant access to Your throne of Grace. Thank You that we have only to utter Your Name from the heart and You are with us. Help us to understand the magnitude of that! What a great and loving God You are! Open our eyes to see and our hearts to receive. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen